In the vibrant community of anime enthusiasts, particularly those who adore Pokémon, Pikachu is renowned for its impressive “electric” abilities, far exceeding the limits of reality. However, Pikachu has also faced its fair share of unfortunate losses over the years. That said, there is one Pokémon that Ash has trained, which has never lost a battle on-screen, and that is Primeape.
Ash first encountered Primeape in the episode “Primeape Goes Bananas!” when it was still a Mankey, evolving after a confrontation with James. Primeape is known for stealing Ash’s cap, prompting Ash to chase it down to retrieve it, ultimately resulting in Ash capturing this Pokémon. Although Ash only had Primeape for a short time, this Fighting-type Pokémon certainly stands out as one of the strongest choices in his lineup. This was the first Pokémon that Ash fully evolved, and also the first Pokémon he lent out to another trainer for additional training.
Primeape Never Lost a Battle On-Screen
Surprisingly, Primeape has never suffered a defeat in any of the battles it participated in, including a championship match for the Pokémon League. Of course, Primeape’s brief appearances during Ash’s journey contributed to its impeccable win rate. With only two instances on-screen (its first entry and departure), there were few opportunities for it to lose a match.
Primeape is famously hard to control during battles, which can create a situation where it can easily lose focus. It notably took down Team Rocket in its very first battle, and later on, in the episode “The Punchy Pokémon,” it achieved a stunning victory against Machop and Hitmonlee.
Even though the series has concluded and many Pokémon that Ash has trained, like Butterfree or Pidgeot, have returned, Ash has never reunited with Primeape. This is a bittersweet fact, as both had developed a unique bond throughout their journey together but had to part ways right after that.
Primeape is undoubtedly a Pokémon with immense potential that Ash had right from the start of the series, and its absence from battles may be a reason for its “exclusion” from the team. This unfortunate situation has made Primeape the only Pokémon of Ash’s that has remained completely undefeated to this day.
Other Pokémon with High Win Rates for Ash
Regarding other Pokémon that could compete for the title of highest win rates, Ash has several Pokémon that come close to Primeape’s impressive record. Ash’s Snorlax boasts a record of 11-3, achieving around an 80% win rate in the battles it participated in. Ash’s Aipom had a record of 9-3 before trading with Dawn, giving it a solid win rate of approximately 75%.
Ash’s Infernape has a record of 17 wins, 6 losses, and 1 draw, resulting in a win rate of about 73%. Similarly, Ash’s Krookodile has not been used in too many battles but still manages to hold a record of 4-1, achieving a win rate of 80%.
Of course, life encompasses more than just victories, and this holds true in the world of Pokémon. Primeape’s difficulty in control and tendency to lose focus could have made it a chaotic addition if it had continued to appear. Losing a battle is never a pleasant experience, but it serves as a significant opportunity for learning, allowing for mistakes to be recognized and alternative strategies to be developed for the future. Ash will never be deterred from becoming a Pokémon Master, even if he must face significant losses along the way, and learning to gracefully accept defeat is a skill that anyone can benefit from.
While Primeape may have never lost a battle on-screen, it does not imply that it is Ash’s best Pokémon. There may come a day when, if Ash ever returns, that he will have Primeape by his side again, or perhaps even evolve it into Annihilape. However, until that day comes, Primeape will always hold a unique place among all of Ash’s Pokémon.
Source: Screenrant
